The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-28
DISCORD IELlBOR'S CAMP.
TROUBLES WHICH THREATEN TO
DISRUPT d. A. 40.
An Outcome OF the Recent Failures
Of Great Strikes-fhe Biscon-
tent Among the Knights.
IspEoIAL TO rHn ArPIAL.l

New YoRK, June 27.-Within q
short time there has been an extrsor-
binary number OF failures Of great
strikes. An equally bad record cam
no. be found at any other time Of the
striking epoch" through which we
are now passing. l do not refer to
small strikes, which are too numerous
10 be counted, and which ars lost or
won without efiecting the general
course of business; but to huge and
sweeping AFFAIR.", bearing upon whole
trades aud tens of thousands Ct work
ers. During the past week, for exam
pie, we have had news of the collapse
OF tho great shoemskers' strike in 4das-
sechuse ttf, which has lasted nearly
aalf year, and kept out 5000 opera
tives; and OF the strike in the build
ing trades at Chicago, which kept out
twice as many and Of the silverwork-
ers's strike here and elsew here, which
kept out only a small force, but
was a test cafe for the whole
business; and of the coke workers in
Pennsylvania, which kept out 5000
men. In other words, during the past
week more than 10000 strisers have
surrendered; and in some cases, as in
that OF the Massachusetts, shoemaker,
pretty Lard times have been imposed
upon II EN-. At this moment the cal
and iron workers of Pennsylvania have
locked horns with their employers on
the question of advancing wages 10
per cent; but the threatened strike,
which would draw in 1000 men, is
likely to be averted by the conference
between the WORKERS aud their en-
ploys; through all the weeks of this
war the record has been OF the same
eomber hue for every class OF
stiikere, the whole country over.
The war opened in this vicinity with
the strike Of the coal handlers, out oil
which grew those "sympsthetic
strikes, which fluttered till March,
and left 40, 600 men out Of work. The
bad luck OF January has continued till
June, which is closing without single
important victory to illustrate the
gloomy record of 1887.
OF course such record is calculated
to produce rackete, bolts and revolts
in the labor organizations, and the
heaviest crop of them ever ye; known
lie now crowding the labor field. In
this city the celebrated district AS
sembly No. 40" OF the Knights OF La
Dor, W hich boosted Of 10000 members
last year, ia cracking like the thorns
under Solomon's pot, and splitting like
q sky rocket in mid air. 1t was re-
sponsible for the coal handlers strike
in January and for the liver workers
strike in Jur q, as well SO for nearly all
the strikes between these two, and the
disappointed men have naturally
turned against the source Of their mis-
fortunes. More than quarter
OF the total membership has
fallen off, and over half OF the
800 assemblies have struck an attitude
of defiance toward their Executive
Board. Assessments remain unpaid
in numerous cases, subordinate e.
fcers are thrown out under various
pretexts; and both Wholesale and re-
tail accusations OF fraud are hurled at
efch other by the leaders. Besides
the shortage from non.payment OF
dues, large sums of money are missing
from the treasury, and; while Dunn
accuses Quinn, Quinn accuses Dunn,
and the Committee OF Investigation
finds leaksges that are leading to uu-
expected quarters. The silver workers
say they did not get the aid that was
promised them during their strike,
and the same accusation is brought by
other bodies Of strikers, while all com.
plain of assessments that ara too
heavy for their members. Then the
5000 expelled members of the carpet
workers. district are tanning the fires
OF rebellion, and the 1000 revolving
members of Montsuk District sie in
the lead of the gsthe ring host OF
mslcontents. Add to these things
the grumbling among the printers,
the strife with several of the leading
trade unions, and the battle that was
begun with the federation of labor,
and it will be eeen that the greatest
labor organic alton in New York,
known az sd. A. 49," is in danger Of
laundering among the reels upon
which it is being driven by the squalls.
All this is largely owing to the never
ending plots of an inner ring styling
itself the Home Club, which has been
dragged from it's hiding place by the
press, and which has secured strange
sscendancy over Powderly and the
councils OF the order. 1t has for sew
ersl years ruled with an iron rod the
great labor organization in this city,
and has worked things to the advsn-
tage Of its own members in way that
can be accounted for only by the
peculiar circumstances under which
organized labor has been placed. The
end of it all is approaching, and the
signs OF the end are to be seen on
every hand by those who know what
is going on unuer the surface.
As it is here, so 1t is in other local.
ties in which have occurred these
great failures of strikes already noted
In Chicago, the chief labor organiza
ton, D. A. No. "a, has been on the
verge Of revolt ever since Mr.. Pow
Derby suppressed the great packing
house strike near the cloee OF las,
year. The building trades which
have Just been on q strike, dc
not belong to the Knights o.
Labor, but their failure has added tC
the general ferment Of discomfort anC
disorder. The Bricklayers' Union il
practically defunct, and all that car
be looked for by its friends is thai
some of the pieces may be saved By
the National Convention, which is tc
meet in Chicago on the 28th Of June
Again, in Massachusetts,, D, A. No. 80
which Includes tAe majority OF organ
lied workers in the State, has beer
thrown on its own back, anC
flung into bankruptcy by the
failure OF the shoemskers's strike
1t was officially announced week ago
that its treasury was empty, and tina
the operators would have to sccep
such terms as the manu- lecturers were
willing to offer. They have hurried
back to work during the week il
gloomy spirits; but under the neces
sity which knows no organization no
any law. A shower of Psrthian ar
rows has Just been hurled into the re
treating forces by the Lssters' Protect
i've Union, an ancient enemy OF tn
Knights OF Labor, which accuses then
OF making az %inglorious surrender
undaP uaOnn natanf laadarahin On thI